Syria says repels Islamic State attack on air base
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A Syrian military source said on Saturday that government forces had repelled an attack by Islamic State militants on an air base in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor, one of the last remaining government stronghold in eastern Syri…
Swiss man overpowers rebel guard, escapes in Philippines
MANILA (Reuters) – A Swiss wildlife photographer escaped from Islamist rebels in the Philippines on Saturday, killing one of them with a machete as he made a break for freedom during a clash between the insurgents and government troops, a Philippine of…
Al Qaeda militant threatens Lebanese Shi’ites after wife detained
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A leading member of Syria’s al Qaeda branch, Abu Ali al-Shishani, has pledged to attack Lebanese women and children and end talks to free more than two dozen members of the Lebanese security forces, after his wife was detained by aut…
France’s Hollande to meet Putin in Moscow: Kremlin
MOSCOW (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, the Kremlin said on Saturday.
Iran confirms air strikes in Iraq against Islamic State: Guardian newspaper
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A senior Iranian official has confirmed his country carried out air strikes in neighboring Iraq against Islamic State fighters at the request of Iraqi authorities, Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported.
Russia’s Gazprom receives prepayment from Ukraine for gas supplies
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian natural gas producer Gazprom said on Saturday it had received a prepayment of $378.22 million from Ukraine for natural gas supplies, paving the way for the first shipments to Kiev since Moscow cut supplies in June.
Massive evacuation as Typhoon Hagupit nears Philippines
MANILA (Reuters) – More than half a million people in the Philippines have fled from a powerful typhoon in one of the world’s biggest peacetime evacuations, as the storm threatens to wreak more destruction on areas still bearing the scars of a super ty…
Hagel, in Kabul, says Afghans to battle back Taliban threat
KABUL (Reuters) – Outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed confidence in the ability of Afghan forces to defend Kabul following a spike in Taliban strikes as he arrived in the Afghan capital on Saturday for his final trip to Afghanistan as…
China arrests ex-security chief for corruption, leaking secrets
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese authorities have arrested former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang and expelled him from the ruling Communist Party, accusing him of crimes ranging from accepting bribes to leaking state secrets and setting the stage for…
Myanmar should investigate girl’s killing, say rights groups
YANGON (Reuters) – Myanmar’s government should investigate the military’s alleged killing of a 14-year-old girl whose father is being prosecuted for making “false charges” after filing a complaint about the attack, rights groups said Saturday.
